RIP, Motorola: Lenovo to phase out the iconic brand name

Company will still use the name "Motorola Mobility" for its phone divisionAP | January 08, 2016, 14:08 IST

Picture source: ThinkStockThe latest developments surrounding the consumer-electronics show in Las Vegas known as CES. A famous name in mobile phones is going away. Lenovo, which bought the Motorola phone business from Google in 2014, is phasing out the Motorola brand for its phones.

Motorola is widely credited as the first company to produce a mobile phone, and it was a leading brand a decade ago. But it struggled to keep up with newer smartphone makers and, after splitting into companies, saw its mobile phone business acquired by Google in 2012. Google then sold the business to Lenovo two years later.

CNET first reported Lenovo's decision. A Motorola representative confirmed Thursday that Lenovo will still use the name "Motorola Mobility" for the company's phone division, but it will shift the branding of its phones and wearable devices to "Moto" and "Vibe."

The report further states that, in future you will see a blue Lenovo logo on the devices along with the 'M' logo of Motorola. The name of Motorola will not phase out completely; it will remain as a division under Lenovo.